Papago El Robusto Porter

Brewed by Oak Creek Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Sedona, Arizona USA

September 2007. Growler acquired in trade. Pour is black and oily with a thin head of dark tan tiny bubbles that coat the glass in lace. Aroma is really nice. Very rich chocolate and coffee with really minimal bitterness. This is really attractive stuff. I want to dive in. The flavor is a rich blend of chocolate and mild roasty coffee. This is way beyond expectations. Delicious.

we had this on tap at the brewpub and I was quite impressed with the smokey, rich flavor. the fact that it was not as sweet as many Baltic Porters tend to be was very pleasing

The Papago El Robusto (on tap at Papago in Scottsdale) was the highlight of my trip to Phoenix since I had to watch the Cardinals get swept by the D-Backs at Chase Field. Boo. But, seriously, this was the first Baltic porter I’ve tried, and it was a great introduction to an awesome style (from what I can tell). The nose was sweet, roasty, and kind of salty. The taste does justice to the name with a lotta malt flavors, some sourness, bitterness and dark fruits, and even a little soy sauce taste. However, the soy sauce taste is significant in that it added to the beer’s complexity rather than detracting from its drinkability. Of course, that reminds me that, despite the plethora of flavors, El Robusto was not too heavily bodied. Again, this might be taken as a criticism, but didn’t seem problematic at the time. At any rate, El Robusto makes me want to go back to Phoenix real soon. This has been the first beer I’ve given a five on appearance. In addition to a gorgeous, nearly opaque black color and a substantial, chocolatey brown head, this has a great deal to do with the fact that it was served on tap at Papago in a tulip glass (which I still don’t own at home).

Growler from Papago - I drank the whole thing in one evening. Wooo wee! Pours a thick dark brown color with a one finger thick light tan head. Nice lacing. Aroma is roasted malt and coffee. Flavor is also roasted malt and coffee. Palate is dry and bitter. Medium to full body. A nice BP.

This thing is like drinking desert. Not much aroma to tease the senses but it makes up for it with the look and flavor. A dark porter with great coffee and chocolate flavors. I will definitely be drinking this one again.

the beer on which all others shall be rated. smells like heaven in a glass, creamy with chocolate, vanilla and coffee. flavors are of honey, coffee and soy when cold and as it warms it develops more malt and hoppy characters. drank this many a night and slept on the lawn. 8/5/9/4/19=4.5

the profile of this brew has changed a lot over the course of just a year. it’s not nearly as robust as it was and the mouth feel seems to be slipping 8/5/8/3/17=4.1

Tap at Papago. Pours with a dark black color and a smallish head. Very creamy body and nice aromas of coffee and chocolate. The beer needs to warm up a little to display its full complexity of roasted malts and fairly bitter hops.

Draft at Papago Brewing Company w/ MNovak. dark black, with the darkest brown head I’ve ever seen! served in an imperial pint glass. sweet honey and seaweed aroma. WOW! Tangy flavor. rich, heavy body